Tommy Loughran

Thomas Patrick Loughran (November 29, 1902 – July 7, 1982) was an American professional boxer and the former World Light Heavyweight Champion. Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Loughran as the #7 ranked light heavyweight of all time, while The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at #4.[1][2] The International Boxing Research Organization rates Loughran as the 6th best light heavyweight ever.[3] Loughran was named the Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year twice, first in 1929 and again 1931.[4] He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1956 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.[1]

Tommy Loughran
Loughran in 1934
Statistics
Real nameThomas Loughran
Nickname(s)Phantom of Philly
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 11 1⁄2 in (1.82 m)
Reach73 in (190 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born(1902-11-29)November 29, 1902
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DiedJuly 7, 1982(1982-07-07) (aged 79)
Altoona, Pennsylvania
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights169
Wins121
Wins by KO14
Losses32
Draws14
No contests2

Boxing career
Loughran in 1929

Loughran was one of seven children of an Irish immigrant motorman.[5] His effective use of coordinated foot work, sound defense and swift, accurate counter punching is now regarded as a precursor to the techniques practiced in modern boxing.[6]

Loughran fought many middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight champions in his career, including Gene Tunney, Jack Sharkey, and Georges Carpentier. Loughran even achieved a Newspaper Decision over fistic phenom Harry Greb, whom he first met at age 19. As a light heavyweight, he defeated two future world heavyweight champions: Max Baer and James J. Braddock. Loughran finally fought Primo Carnera for the heavyweight title but lost a decision.[7]

In an interview late in life, Loughran said his loss to Carnera was a pre-arranged fait accompli: "I had to knock him out to win, I had to agree to that". Footage of the fight is limited and scarce, but Loughran contended he had Carnera in trouble in Rounds 4 and 10, "but then, when I couldn't finish him, I knew the thing was over". The decision a foregone conclusion, Tommy Loughran told Peter Heller in April, 1972, "I beat (Carnera), no question about it".[8]

Later life
Historical Marker, 2400 S. 17th St. Philadelphia PA

On August 22, 1957, he refereed Floyd Patterson's defense of his heavyweight title vs. 1956 Olympic gold medalist Pete Rademacher, at Sick's Stadium, Seattle. The fight was notable in that Rademacher was the first and only fighter to challenge for the heavyweight crown in his professional debut. There were several knockdowns in the fight; Tommy counted out the challenger at 2:57 of the 6th round.

In the 1960s Loughran retired from having been a long-time, successful broker on Wall Street, where he had dealt in commodities (sugar). He became a keynote speaker, appearing at dinners and banquets, his message an attempt to promote and strengthen the image of boxers and boxing at what for the sport was a troubled time.[8] In addition, Tommy lent color commentary to at least one championship bout, Carlos Ortiz vs. Johnny Bizarro in Pittsburgh, June 20, 1966.

In 2006, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission raised a historical marker in front of St. Monica's Roman Catholic Church, in his old neighborhood, and reads in part: He boxed during the "Golden Age of Boxing" in many weight classes, beating 10 champs in his 18-year career. The "Philly Phantom" had a scientific style, built on precision and maneuverability rather than brute force. Considered a gentleman both in and out of the ring. Loughran was devoted to his neighborhood and church here.[9]

Notable bouts
Result Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes[7]
Draw Al McCoy PTS 12 1936-07-30 Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Loss Al McCoy PTS 10 1936-07-06 Baseball Stadium, Montreal, Quebec
Win Jack London PTS 10 1936-03-16 Colston Hall, Bristol
Loss Ben Foord PTS 10 1936-02-10 Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire
Loss Tommy Farr PTS 10 1936-01-15 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
Loss Arturo Godoy PTS 10 1935-03-17 Nunoa Sports Ground, Santiago de Chile, London
Win Arturo Godoy UD 12 1935-01-05 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Draw Arturo Godoy PTS 12 1934-10-20 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Loss Walter Neusel SD 10 1934-05-04 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss Primo Carnera UD 15 1934-03-01 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York For lineal heavyweight title
Win Jack Sharkey UD 15 1933-09-27 Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win King Levinsky UD 10 1933-01-10 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss King Levinsky UD 10 1931-12-18 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win Paulino Uzcudun SD 10 1931-11-13 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win Tuffy Griffiths MD 10 1931-03-27 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win Ernie Schaaf UD 10 1931-03-13 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win Max Baer UD 10 1931-02-06 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win King Levinsky UD 10 1930-11-21 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Loss Ernie Schaaf UD 10 1930-06-11 Sesquicentennial Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss Ernie Schaaf SD 10 1930-04-28 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss Jack Sharkey TKO 3 (15), 0:27 1929-09-26 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Win James J. Braddock UD 15 1929-07-18 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York Retained lineal light heavyweight title
Win Ernie Schaaf PTS 10 1929-05-24 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Win Mickey Walker SD 10 1929-03-28 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win Pete Latzo UD 10 1928-07-16 Artillery Park, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Retained lineal light heavyweight title
Win Pete Latzo UD 15 1928-06-01 Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York Retained lineal light heavyweight title
Win Jimmy Slattery MD 15 1927-12-12 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Retained lineal light heavyweight title
Win Mike McTigue UD 15 1927-10-07 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Won vacant lineal light heavyweight title
Win Young Stribling UD 10 1927-05-03 Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York
Win Georges Carpentier UD 10 1926-06-17 Sesquicentennial Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Draw Jack Delaney PTS 10 1925-07-16 Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss Young Stribling PTS 10 1925-03-28 Recreation Park, San Francisco, California
Draw Harry Greb SD 10 1924-10-13 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss Young Stribling PTS 6 1924-06-26 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Loss Jack Delaney PTS 10 1924-02-19 Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts
Win Johnny Wilson PTS 10 1924-02-12 Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts
Loss Harry Greb PTS 10 1923-12-25 Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Win Roland Todd PTS 10 1923-12-10 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win Harry Greb PTS 10 1923-10-11 Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts
Loss Mike McTigue NWS 12 1923-08-02 Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey For lineal light heavyweight title
Newspaper Decision
Win Mike McTigue NWS 8 1923-06-25 Shetzline Ballpark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania For lineal light heavyweight title
Newspaper Decision
Loss Jeff Smith NWS 8 1923-06-18 Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision
Win Jeff Smith NWS 10 1923-03-08 109th Infantry Armory, Philadelphia, Scranton Newspaper Decision
Loss Harry Greb UD 15 1923-01-30 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss Harry Greb NWS 10 1923-01-15 Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision
Draw Gene Tunney NWS 8 1922-08-24 Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision
Loss Harry Greb NWS 8 1922-07-10 Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision

See also
  • List of light heavyweight boxing champions

References
  1. Cyber Boxing Encyclopedia - Tommy Loughran CyberBoxingZone.com Retrieved on 2014-04-30
  2. All-Time Light Heavyweight Rankings. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-04-11.
  3. All-Time Light Heavyweight Rankings IBROresearch.com Retrieved on 2014-04-29
  4. Tommy Loughran (1902-1982) Historical Marker. ExplorePAHistory.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-07.
  5. Fitzpatrick, Frank. "Philly plaque recalls boxer Tommy Loughran". Philly.com. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  6. Casey, Mike (September 9, 2008). "Tommy Loughran: Poetry in Motion". East Side Boxing. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  7. Tommy Loughran's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-18.
  8. Heller, Peter (1974) [1973]. In This Corner...!. New York, NY: Dell. OCLC 803908275.
  9. Historical Marker Database
Achievements
Preceded by
Mike McTigue		 NYSAC World Light Heavyweight Champion
October 7, 1927 – July 18, 1929
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Jimmy Slattery
Vacant
Title last held by
Jack Delaney		 World Light Heavyweight Champion
October 7, 1927 – July 18, 1929
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Maxie Rosenbloom
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